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Maldives: The Hot 5

Written by Timmy Coles-Liddle

Maldives: The Hot 5

One & Only Reethi Rah

Each of the resort’s 128 private villas has been skillfully constructed using traditional Asian influences and natural materials such as silk, rattan and sea grass.  The spacious, open-plan villas are flooded with natural light and filled with luxurious treats such as oversized bathtubs, generous dressing rooms and posturepedic mattresses.  Numerous restaurants and bars have been carefully dotted around the island, maximising the stunning vistas whilst retaining intimacy, offering delights from the Med, Japan and Asia Pacific, to the Arabic cuisine at the boho-luxe beachside Fanditha lounge. 

For the more adventurous, the resort offers an unparalleled choice of both land and water-based activities to get stuck in to.  Why not spend the day exploring the azure waters of the Indian Ocean whilst dolphin-watching?  Other sports include parasailing, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing and deep-sea fishing.  Or, for those in chill-out mode, sit back and relax on board a sleek catamaran.

reethirah.oneandonlyresorts.com

NIYAMA

NIYAMA

A swift forty-minute seaplane journey from Maldivian capital, Male, is this breathtaking private island resort.  We recommend the 515-sqm two-bedroom ocean pavilion complete with sleek, sunken living area, cocktail bar and high-tech entertainment system.  Outdoors, the private swimming pool, Jacuzzi and intimate sunbathing deck will impress even the most discerning of luxe-conscious travellers.  Your very own butler, or ‘Thakuru’, will ensure your every wish is fulfilled. 

Sip Niyama Breeze cocktails beside the infinity pool at the laidback beach club whilst selecting bites from the a la carte international menu.  Amble over to the in-house LIME Spa and ponder whether to opt for a treatment in the lagoon view room or one of the Spa Sanctuaries enclosed by the island’s lush shrubs and vegetation.  NIYAMA’s signature treatments use local ingredients like Maldivian coral sand and coconut oil, which will polish the skin and leave your skin feeling sun-kissed and beach-ready.

niyama.peraquum.com

Cheval Blanc Randheli

Cheval Blanc Randheli

The hotly anticipated Maison, from luxury group LVMH, has been meticulously designed to wow guests with bespoke, once-in-a-lifetime experiences.  After touching down in the Maison’s custom-made seaplane, guests will be personally welcomed at their villa (one of 45) by a Majordome – ‘guardian angel’ – who will liaise and prepare a selection of carefully tailored experiences and recommendations for their stay.

Children are very much welcomed and looked after through a wide range of cultural, sporting and educational experiences.  They will adore the underwater photo safari.  The Maison’s A Thari Spa Night experience is a must-do: an evening that incorporates observing the Maldivian astrology, followed by a much-deserved treatment at the in-house Spa, topped off with a private candle-lit dinner on the terrace.

chevalblanc.com

The Rania Experience

The Rania Experience

Undoubtedly one of the most exclusive private island resorts in the world, this exclusive hideaway offers a one-of-a-kind bespoke stay, set on a lush, tropical island surrounded by emerald green waters and an abundance of flora and fauna.  Accommodating just one single group – up to twelve guests in total - the island’s on-call team of dedicated chefs, butlers and hosts will tailor-make an experience unrivalled anywhere in the world. 

Restaurant reservations and spa bookings are a bore of the past – at Rania, simply pop in whenever you feel so inclined.  Whether you intend on sitting back and cruising the Indian Ocean’s crystal clear waters aboard the island’s luxury yacht, or indulging in a spot of sunset fishing on the traditional fishing boat, or ‘dhoni’, The Rania Experience will leave you mesmerised and rejuvenated. 

raniaexperience.com

Cocoa Island by COMO

Cocoa Island by COMO

Offering all the knowledge and experience of an established resort group but with the intimacy and personalised service of a luxury boutique destination, this paradise atoll is a hot contender. Just thirty-three open-plan, elegant overwater villas provide guests with complete privacy and, of course, direct access to the turquoise lagoon and mesmerising reef.  Holistic wellness treatments are administered in individual wooden villas by world-class therapists at the signature COMO Shambhala Retreat. 

The Asian-inspired treatments will rebalance your soul, whilst age-old authentic Ayurvedic therapies will leave you harmonised and rejuvenated.  A modern interpretation of South Indian dining will await you at Cocoa Island’s various top-notch restaurants and bars, all with extraordinary vistas to the azure waters beyond.

comohotels.com/cocoaisland

Allow NINE to take care of your travel and lifestyle requests.  Whether organising intricate travel arrangements and itineraries, home management, dining reservations, visa applications or private recruitment assistance, we take care of each request and errand thoroughly and efficiently.  Contact us here to request a brochure or for more information about our bespoke concierge memberships